Our History

Sacred Heart Parish was established in July 1875 after some 100 families in West Brighton petitioned the Archbishop of New York to have a church in their midst.  Accordingly, Cardinal McCloskey decreed the erection of a new parish.  The church was initially called Saint Rose of Lima (who was the first saint in the Americas).  The Reverend William C. Poole was appointed the first Pastor of the Church and the first Mass was said on July 25, 1875.

Through the diligence and zeal of Fr. Poole, the Parish grew, and the small brick church was inadequate.  A beautiful new church and rectory were constructed on Castleton Avenue and North Burgher Avenue and was dedicated on June 17, 1899, by Archbishop Corrigan.  It was Archbishop Corrigan who changed the name of the church to "Sacred Heart" in honor of a Papal document issued by Pope Leo XIII, the reigning pontiff which stressed devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Father Poole had a special concern and fondness for children, and it was he who planned the building of a new school.  Unfortunately, Father Poole died before its completion in April of 1915.  He is buried alongside the church that he loved so well.  Father Thomas Heafy became his successor, and it was he who completed the impressive school building on North Burgher Avenue.  The school was staffed by the Sisters of Charity for many years.  In 1960, the new wing of the school was completed which included new classrooms and a very impressive gymnasium.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is today commemorated each First Friday of the month as well through the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated annually on the First Friday after the Octave of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus (Corpus Christi).